Switch operator for children



Feb. 9, 1954 J. v. MElSTRELL SWITCH OPERATOR FOR CHILDREN Filed May 7, 1951 INVENTOR. L/O/IN M MEISTRELL JAM/04' Patented Feb. 9, 1954 TED STATES prises ,a. zremote zcontrol :meehanism itor -.opera.tv

re. eonmentiorml wall switch item to station spaced below thew switch such @a Eposition as to trench of sa smallichild so that he {may turn .on 01 fcontnol -anther electrical -31 spliances .fQr::hisown use. The device .is portion larly advantageous star use "with slight switches, since it is to. shatter not common knowledge :that mast :small children .mraid .of .-a darkened room. As a result, perentstare lcalledenpon toanaake iconntless drips to aturn-lonslightsso -that the chiidimeywget -;.put=on This then clothes, -'-.or

thedike. dihisvehone is performed bar snag ority of warez-its, it .is meveritheless interrupting tend tiresome, rand is obyiously an 'axlmntege:ihthewhildcamhemede xself qsuffieient in mespeet.

II have discovered that -;a. small @ch-ild is 'gnite wwil-lingeanmeepazble or z-tunning on light or appliances ior his-.own :use when he \is giro-Midst with control means within his French. order that the child :beeayablenf itsingthe control-ade- Nicg, it .must die fiflfiilyi'omble @thmngh anannal :actuation;rngeed, -andifoolpreof. .nnmserallscenvsidiexzetion is thesalfetyrof child, tend te this end there zmust die absolute :zse'fegnands against electrical accidents.

:It therefore-3a.: major subject of any :imrention to :provide :a switch tonerator which enables 2a. smell =schild to mnerate an electrical a station iheloaw :the switch :and wiithm Hench.

:Anather robieet ro'f my its provide eswttch soperator is ocompletely sate use :byasmallachildnen.

it is nmohieet my. invention :to sororitie a operator which has .a .memote control mechanism .of increased .leverage ;to .iacilitate. operation .or the switch Jay .2. child having .less

thanadult.strengtnanfiilexterity.

"Itis'affurther'obiect ofmy.inventionitoprovidel" a. switch ioperattor .0f the kind described which is adaxitedior convenient endmpidins'tsllition on difierent typesof housholdtog gleswitches'with V} out modi'fication or disassembly-of the latter.

Yet mmther-"olijectdf *my invention is to erowide a .switch :operator "which ts simple and tool- .mzoof .to withstand 'ithe rugged nsavge oitehiliiren,

mad'isarsmazssinroiinetiomsoztimtntmg zbesolfdmtmmominalaenst.

".ilnesemidmtnmwobjects iendzadmn m3 invention will loeeemeiqnmrent lfmmthe wow v 2 inghetaileddeseniptionoiamreterredIoznmthereolf. andirom entinspection of .the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

.Iig. .1 is .a merspectine viewof .a preferred-embodiment of my invention shown installed .at .a conventional toggle switch;

Fig. 2 is :a longitudinal medial section through the tdevioe taken .along Lline2-=2 e02f Fig. {1;

13 is e transverse section .taken .along the line 3-.3 .nLEig. 1,; and

..Fig. 4 is .a -perspective view -.of. the remote -.control'Q-linkage mechanism used ."in the device,

i-Reierring now to .the drawings, and ;.par\tioularly to Fig. 1 thereof an electrical .sneplsswitch is indicated .as having .an outwardly :mroieoting control leiaerhr toggle =10. .In.household..installation a toggle-operated esnap .switch having so switchboxmonnted flush with :the .wallrisialmcst universally "used, .and the ,meferrned rte/rm :of any invention .will be illustrated .in .connection with this't-ypeof "device. .AsiseonventionaL-theto le L0 kis iivotally mounted ifor movement iii-em tan upper to is, .lower iposition land has a snap for spring-resist action which tends to threw .internal electrical ,contacts rapidly into on for fo'flf nositions.

Ihe switch .proper comprises to {generally treetangular .switeh block .H which {centrally gnositioned .within .a metal switch .box M, as :seen

imgmentarily Rig. .2. A carrier or bracket ii; is attached to the front Etacerof the block 2M and is .ndsnted to be secured :.:to the .upner and z-lower edges .of switch box t2. .Generailly, hex t2 rigidly mounted within the wall structure end bracket 4.3 .aitteched firmly thereon, iblltiit be iound .that .in -certain zinstallattions either hex .12 .or ,bracket .43 may Joe rimproperty mounted that switch block M .is susceptible to stormed movement, .creating .an installation problem 5&5 willehetdiscnssedlcter. morcomplete thenssembly ;a..-:cover,pla.te (notshown) .isxnormelly supplied-s10 cover ithe .iront opening -.of switch thox -12 land is adapted .tohe securedin placelbyltasteninghmeans whichengzgemith-rbraoket l3" illheeontmltogele i0 xordinarily gnroiects .-throngh :snch 1e never :jplete andisesnosedrfor menuaL-actuation. res

' ldownwaisdlyrtossnpporte.nivotallycnonntedllow control @handle -.or *toggle :--IJ,. Within the .vhousing I5 I provide linking means which connect lower toggle H with switch toggle I, so that switch I I may be manually actuated from, eithertoggle. By the use of toggle H, a small child may operate the lights or other electrical appliances controlled through switch and at the same time, toggle I is available for adult use in controlling the switch.

Housing I is formed with an upper rectangular plate 20 which is spaced forwardly from the wall surface by rearwardly turned side and top flanges 2|. into the center of plate 20 for accommodating toggle I0 and permitting its normal pivotal movement. In order to accommodate linking means for connecting handle or toggle H with toggle [0, it is necessary that edge flanges 2| be made somewhat deeper than those found on conventional switch plates, and for this reason the entire length of toggle does not project through plate as in a normal installation. It is therefore desirable, that the thickness of plate 29 be reduced as much as possible around aperture 22 as by means of a shallow dished portion 23.

Depending from plate 20 is an elongated central channel section 25 having a central wall 26 supported by rearwardly turned edge flanges 21. As is best seen in Fig. 2, section 25 provides an inner channel 28 which is opened at the top to the space behind plate 20 and extends downwardly a substantial distance. Connected to the lower end of section 25 is a station box formed by a circular edge flange 30 and a fiat front disk or plate 3|. Lower toggle I1 is pivotally supported by plate 3| and projects outwardly therefrom through a central aperture 32. Behind front plate 3| is a lower operating space 33 which opens upwardly into channel 28.

In this form of the device, I prefer to decorate station plate 3| with a clowns or animals face which will be attractive to children. The toggle or handle I! forms the tongue of the clowns face, and the operation of the device by the movement of the clowns tongue is pleasing and amusing to the child. For small children, the association of a pictorial representation with a desired functional result is an advantageous teaching aid, enabling the child to more quickly understand the operation of the device. At the same time, the housing is ornamental and attractive for sale purposes. Under conditions in which the device is to be used ina room other than a childs room, it may be preferable to eliminate any decoration An elongated aperture 22 is cut- 4 duced width, extending rearwardly beyond the pivot pin 38. As is best seen in Fig. 2, the length of the moment arm of toggle H with respect to the pivot axis 38 is substantially greater than that of crank arm to provide increased leverage and facilitate operation of the device by a small child.

' Connected between switch toggle l0 and lower crank arm 40 isa linking means comprising a connecting bar or flat link 42 which is free for vertical movement within channel 28 and has its lower end formed as a yoke 43. Arm 40 is adapted to fit within yoke 43 and is rotatably connected thereon by a crank pin 44. As is seen in Fig. 2, movement of toggle I! from a lower to an upper position causes arm 40 to move downwardly-and effects a downwardly directed vertical movement of link 42. The upper end of link 42 is formed as a cross-head provided with a slot orrectangular opening 46 which fits around the inner portion of switch toggle ID with only a slight amount of clearance. Vertical movement of link 42 thus causes toggle H] to be moved pivotally with respect to switch H for controlling the electrical contacts therein. Because of the increased leverage or mechanical advantage provided at toggle ll, only a slight manual force need be exerted thereon to throw toggle Hi from its upper to lower position, or vice versa. j

Below the opening 46, I provide an elongated guide slot 41 which is adapted to receivethe lower fastening screw I6 therethrough for limiting link 42 to substantially vertical movement. At the top of link 42, I provide a stop notch 48 which engages an enlarged rectangular boss 5| extended rearwardly from plate 20 around the upper fastening screw I6 so as to limit the upward travel of the link. A similar enlarged boss 52 may extend rearwardly from plate 20 around lower fastening screw l6 and both bosses bear against the switch carrier bracket l3. 7

The purpose of bosses'SI and 52 is to act as spacers preventing bracket Hi from being drawn toofar outwardly when the screws i6 are tighton the plate 3| to provide amore inconspicuous structure. In any event, the entire housing I5 is preferably formed by an extrusion process from one of avariety of plastic materials such as polymethyl-methacrylate, poly-vinyl-chloride, the resins of phenol or urea, or the like. By the use of a colored plastic material, I obviate the necessity of painting the device, and provide a durable finish. More important, however, is the fact that the housing I5 is formed of a nonconducting material which effectively insulates lower toggle I! from an electrical current passing through switch 1 To support toggle H, a pair of ears 3B are extended rearwardly from front plate 3| on either side of apertures 32, as is best seen in Fig. 3. The rear portion of toggle H is made of increased thickness and bored to serve as a bearing 31 which is rotatably mounted on a transverse pivot pin-having its ends journaled in ears 36. At the rear end of the toggle l1 2. short crank arm '40 is formed as a longitudinal extension of reened. 'As was previously mentioned-it is some times found that the bracket l3 or switch box I2 is not rigidly mounted in the wall structure, and under these conditions it'is possible to'inadvertently tighten screws IE to such an extent as to cause bracket l3 to bear frictionally against link 42 and'interfere with the operation of the device. The provision of spacing bosses 5| and 52 prevents overtightening and thus enables the device to be rapidly and easily installed by even an inexperienced person.

In the preferred form of the device, toggle I I and link 42 are formed as a plastic material similar to that used for housing l5. Such a material is an effective electrical insulator, and it can be seen that by making the entire assem: bly from plastic I eliminatethe possibility of an electrical current reaching the child when he operates toggle H. The use of a plastic material also lends itself to an economical extrusion process permitting the device to be mass; produced and sold at a nominal cost.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention which has been illustrated in connection with a specific type of switch constructiomit is apparent that the invention may be modified for use on other conven-. tional switches. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the details described herein, except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A switch operator for local and remote oper ation and adapted for mounting as an accessory to an electrical switch having an exposed control toggle pivotally movable between switch operating positions, said operator comprising: a housing formed with fastening holes adapted to receive screws for connection to said switch in place of a cover plate and having an elongated lower portion extending downwardly therefrom, said housing having an aperture therein to expose said control toggle for local manual actuation and said housing edge portion bearing rigidly against a supporting wall surface and defining a rear passageway extending longitudinally therethrough; a control handle pivotally mounted to the lower end of said housing in such a position as to provide a mechanical advantage at the working end thereof for movement by a child between operating positions; and a linking member extending along said passageway and pivotally connected at the lower end to said operating handle, the upper end of said member being slotted and engaged with said control toggle for moving the latter in response to movement of said control handle.

2. A switch operator for local and remote operation and adapted for mounting as an accessory to an electrical switch having an exposed control toggle pivotally movable between upper and lower switch operating positions, said operator comprising: a housing formed for connection to said switch and having an elongated lower portion extending downwardly therefrom, said housing having an aperture therein to expose said control toggle for local manual actuation and said housing having edge portions bearing rigidly against a supporting wall surface and defining a rear passageway extending longitudinally therethrough; bearing means at the lower end of said housing adjacent a lower aperture therein; a control handle pivotally supported by said hearing means and extending through said lower aperture for limited vertical movement, said handle having a relatively short rear crank arm extending rearwardly of the pivot axis whereby to facilitate movement of said handle by a small child; and a. linking member mounted for vertical movement in said passageway and rotatably connected at the lower end to said crank arm, the upper end of said member being slotted and engaged with said control toggle for moving the latter in response to movement of said control handle.

3. A switch operator for local and remote operation and adapted for mounting as an accessory to an electrical switch having an exposed control toggle pivotally movable between upper and lower switch operating positions, said operator comprising: a housing formed with fastening holes adapted to receive screws for connection to said switch in place of a cover plate, and having an elongated portion extending downwardly therefrom, the upper portion of said housing being shaped as a cover plate spaced outwardly from said switch by edge flanges and having a central aperture therein to expose said control toggle for local manual operation, said elongated portion having edge flanges bearing rigidly against a supporting wall surface and defining a rear passageway extending longitudinally therethrough; a lower station plate joined to said elongated portion and spaced outwardly by edge flanges, said plate having a central aperture therein; bearing supports extending rearwardly from said station plate adjacent said central aperture; a control lever pivotally connected to said bearing supports and extending through said aperture for limited vertical movement, said lever having a relatively short rear crank arm extending rearwardly of the pivot axis whereby to facilitate movement of said lever by a small child; and a linking member mounted for vertical movement in said passageway and rotatably connected at the lower end to said crank arm, the upper end of said member being slotted'and engaged with said control toggle for moving the latter in response to movement of said control handle.

4. A switch operator for local and remote operation and adapted for mounting as an accessory to an electrical switch having an exposed control toggle pivotally movable between upper and lower switch operating positions, said operator comprising: a housing formed with fastening holes adapted to receive screws for connection to said switch in place of a cover plate, and having an elongated portion extending downwardly therefrom, the upper portion of said'housing being shaped as a cover plate spaced outwardly from said switch by edge flanges and having a central aperture therein to expose said control toggle for local manual operation, said elongated portion having edge flanges bearing rigidly against a supporting wall surface and defining a rear passageway extending longitudinally therethrough; spacer bosses extended rearwardly from said cover plate adjacent said fastening holes for engagement with said switch to limit the take-up of the fastening screws; a lower station plate joined to said elongated portion and spaced outwardly by edge flanges, said plate having a central aperture therein; bearing supports extending rearwardly from said station plate adjacent said central aperture; a control lever pivotally connected to said bearing supports and extending through said aperture for limited vertical movement, said lever having a relatively short rear crank arm extending rearwardly of the pivot axis whereby to facilitate movement of said lever by a small child; and a linking member mounted for vertical movement in said passageway and rotatably connected at the lower end to said crank arm, the upper end of said member being slotted and engaged with said control toggle for moving the latter in response to movement of said control handle, said operator being further characterized by the use of a nonconducting plastic material for all of said aforementioned elements whereby said switch is effectively insulated from said control lever.

JOHN V. MEISTRELL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,934,024 Anderson Nov. 7, 1933 2,119,888 Nixon June 7, 1938 2,146,146 Innis Feb. 7, 1939 2,211,819 Innis Aug. 20, 1940 2,257,033 Bissell Sept. 23, 1941 2,389,220 Tredeau Nov. 20, 1945 2,493,581 Hood Jan. 3, 1950 2,574,933 Ogren Nov. 13, 1951 2,582,379 Goldberg Jan. 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 6,214 Great Britain Mar. 12, 1912 521,777 Great Britain May 30, 1940 

